IMPORTANT: Comprehension questions will be in chronological order as you read through the story. Page numbers are approximate, and will vary with different editions of the book.
Section 1: Chapters 1 – 3
Vocabulary
- acrid: having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell
- eloquent: fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing
- imminent: about to happen
- nullification: make legally null or void: invalidate
- secession: the action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state
- strident: loud and harsh; grating
- tedium: the state of being bored
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- …; beyond this fence were the hitching posts in an area covered by sweet clover and an acrid-smelling little flower that Jethro knew as “dog fennel.” (Ch. 1, pg. 15)
- Miles of bunting draped dozens of platforms, where speakers by virtue of their prestige as men of property or of exceptional eloquence, found themselves called upon to fan the wrath of the people. (Ch. 3, pg. 35)
- Jethro was depressed by her somber mood, but not by the imminence of war. (Ch. 1, pg. 6)
- “…I hate talk of nullification, but at the same time I hate laws passed by Congress that favors one part of a country and hurts the other.” (Ch. 3, pg. 40)
- There were chinch bugs and grasshoppers, moths of drought, elections, slavery, secession, talk of war – the adult world of trouble, though, was not real enough to dim the goodness of an April morning. (Ch. 1, pg. 3)
- Wilse Graham’s voice was strident with anger. (Ch. 2, pg. 32)
- Families packed children and picnic baskets into wagons and drove to a different town each week, where the music of brass bands and the streams of inflamed oratory made a glorious succession of holidays for people long bound to the tedium of isolation. (Ch. 3, pg. 35)
Comprehension Questions
- Ellen had lived through sickness, poverty, danger and the deaths of several children. (Ch. 1, pg. 2)
- The “thing” that holds little value to Mrs. Creighton is the sight of a pretty face. (Ch. 1, pg. 2)
- Jethro means there will be an abundant crop. It’s a biblical reference to the story of Joseph in Egypt. (Ch. 1, pg. 1)
- Jethro’s family had fought in the American Revolution, Mexican War and the War of 1812. pg. 10
- Jethro is angry at his father and Abraham Lincoln because they had not shown a hard and unyielding attitude that he admired in others. (Ch. 1, pg. 13)
- Jethro’s brother Bill was considered odd because he liked to read more than other pursuits. (Ch. 1, pg. 17)
- The talk of war causes tension at the Creighton family’s dinner table. (Ch. 1, pgs. 19-20)
- The first battle of the Civil War was at Fort Sumter. (Ch.2, pg. 31)
- pg. 27-28
- The existing conflict between the brothers is that John thinks slavery is evil and should not spread, Bill also thinks slavery is evil but that the real issue is greed not slavery. (Ch. 2, pgs. 27-29)
Section 2: Chapters 4-6
Vocabulary
- belligerent: hostile and aggressive
- caustic: sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
- gumption: shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness
- inconspicuous: not clearly visible or attracting attention; not conspicuous
- precarious: not securely held or in position
- raucous: making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and loud noise
- wistful: having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- He turned belligerently when he reached the door.(Ch. 5, pg. 80)
- She nodded caustically at that and stood surveying the two of them for the moment, her hands on her wide hips. (Ch. 5, pg. 82)
- “…There’s nothin’ hard about it – jest keepin a level head and using gumption.” (Ch. 5, pg. 70)
- He turned then to Jethro, who stood beside the counter, his body hunched together as if in an effort to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. (Ch. 5, pg. 80)
- …; now and then a wheel passed over a stone or a stump hidden by weeds or tangled vines, and the wagon with its load tilted precariously. (Ch. 5, pg. 75)
- There was only raucous, drunken laughter at his words. (Ch. 6, pg. 111)
- It had been a wonderful experience, and he looked at the place wistfully as he passed. (Ch. 5, pg. 76)
Comprehension Questions
- Two events caused the north to celebrate were the fall of Fort Henry in Tennessee and Fort Donelson. (Ch. 4, pg. 47)
- Matthew’s and Ellen’s views differ in that Ellen would allow Jenny to marry Shadrach now but Matthew believes Jenny is too young. (Ch. 4, pg. 52)
- Some of the names given to Lincoln are, “the baboon”, and “the ugly, ignorant, backwoods Lincoln”. (Ch. 4, pg. 61)
- Shadrach’s assignment to Jenny and Jethro is to read the books and newspapers he leaves for them while he is gone to war. (Ch. 4, pgs. 63-64)
- Jethro is taunted at the store because his brother Bill is fighting on the side of the south. (Ch. 5, pgs. 77-78
- The editor says he wants to get better acquainted with Jethro and that he doesn’t like to eat alone. (Ch. 5, pgs. 81-82)
- Jethro meets Dave Burdock who wants to ride awhile with Jethro in the wagon because he knows Jethro is in danger of being attacked. (Ch. 5, pgs. 89-90)
- The events at Newton caused Matthew to collapse and Jethro has to become the man of the family. (Ch. 6, pgs. 95-96)
- Jenny angers Jethro by not reading the whole letter from Shadrach. (Ch. 6, pgs. 103-104)
- The Creighton family was threatened that trouble was coming to the family because they stood up for their son who was fighting for the South. (Ch. 6, pgs. 110-111)
Section 3: Chapters 7-9
Vocabulary
- foray: a sudden attack or incursion into enemy territory, especially to obtain something
- genial: friendly and cheerful
- inevitable: certain to happen; unavoidable
- reiterate: say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity
- subsequent: coming after something in time; following
- tenacious: trying to keep a firm hold of something; clinging ot adhering closely
- waver: be undecided between two opinions or courses of actions
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- The Point Prospect campground south of Rose Hill was said to be swarming with soldiers who made forays on chicken coops, pigpens, and smokehouses where winter meat was hung. (Ch. 9, pg. 141)
- “Be glad you’re a boy, young feller, and don’t hev to pester yoreself with all these troubles that men be sufferin’ through these days,” he said genially. (Ch. 8, pg. 134)
- Jethro read the news in dismay, and for the rest of the war there was always a fear within him that disappointment and disaster inevitably followed hope. (Ch. 8, pg. 131)
- Eb’s often reiterated, “I’ll be goin’ on soon Jeth; I won’t be a burden to you much longer,” became like the whippoorwill’s cry – always the same and never ending. (Ch. 9, pg. 159)
- Dan Lawrence was not yet twenty; he was still weak from his wounds and loss of blood, still under the cloud of a horror that only subsequent horrors could make him forget. (Ch. 7, pg. 116)
- “…; he was, moreover, stubbornly tenacious under his wild manner – two facts well-enough known around town to make the night prowlers wary for several weeks.” (Ch. 7, pg. 124)
- He seemed to waver before the necessity of describing the day that followed the first five of that April. (Ch. 7, pg. 117)
Comprehension Questions
- The Creighton’s received news that Tom had been killed and Ross Milton wrote an open letter in his paper shaming the people who had burned their farm. (Ch. 7, pgs. 118-119)
- Sam Gardiner shot Wortman in the behind with buck shot as he was vandalizing Sam’s store, thereby humiliating him and making him a laughing stock of the county. (Ch. 7, pgs. 123-124)
- The North’s high hopes for the war had been crushed and people had lost hope they would win due to all the losses the general’s had. (Ch. 8, pgs. 129-130)
- Dave Burdow has become a nicer person and generously sent a load of logs to help rebuild the barn that was burned down. (Ch. 8, pgs. 131-132)
- Israel Thomas defends the President by saying that the war is hard and complicated and that Lincoln is doing the best he can. (Ch. 8, pg. 134)
- Shadrach sees that General McClellan doesn’t have a killer instinct and is afraid to send his men into battle for fear that he will look bad. (Ch. 8, pgs. 135-136)
- The general feeling about the war was despair and many soldiers were deserting their ranks. (Ch. 8, pgs. 138-139)
- Many deserters fled to Point Prospect and they survived by stealing food from farms. (Ch. 9, pg. 140)
- Many of the men dodged the draft by hiring another man to fight for them for three hundred dollars. (Ch. 9, pgs. 141-142)
- Jethro learns from the soldiers that his speech is open to ridicule. (Ch. 9, pg. 145)
Section 4: Chapters 10 – 12
Vocabulary
- complicit:involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing
- incoherent: expressed in an incomprehensible or confusing way; unclear
- monotonous: dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest
- onslaught: a fierce or destructive attack
- pandemonium: wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar
- provender: food
- spinster: an unmarried woman, typically an older woman beyond the usual age for marriage
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden, who in the bewildering mountain terrain had completely lost control of the men they were supposed to command, were now accused of everything from downright stupidity to traitorous complicity with the enemy.(Ch. 11, pg. 179)
- The news of the battle was confused at first, incoherent, sometimes contradictory… (Ch. 10, pg. 167)
- The family was always glad to see him; he enlivened for a short time the passing of one monotonous day after another. (Ch. 10, pg. 169)
- Then there was Chancellorsville, where handsome Joe Hooker fell helplessly before Lee’s onslaught, and in the early summer of ’63, papers that had expressed admiration for his spirit and confidence were screaming for his head. (Ch. 10, pg. 164)
- Then in the midst of the pandemonium over Gettysburg another Union victory was announced: Vicksburg had fallen! (Ch. 10, pg. 168)
- …;how the snipers located all along the slopes of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge made it impossible for a wagon load of food or provender to get through to either men or animals. (Ch. 11, pg. 179)
- A letter came addressed to Matt from a spinster aunt of Shadrach’s who lived in Washington, a woman of whom Shad had often spoken. (Ch. 10, pg. 168)
Comprehension Questions
- Shadrach and Jenny’s relationship changes because they get married in Washington. (Ch. 10, pg. 173)
- Abraham Lincoln gave The Gettysburg Address in November 1863 (Ch. 11, pg. 182)
- President Lincoln issued a Proclamation of Amnesty in December of 1863. (Ch. 11, pgs. 182-183)
- Shadrach observes that Lincoln’s face is deeply lined and his cheeks were gaunt. (Ch. 11, pg. 184)
- Lincoln won the Presidency because most of the soldier’s voted for him and most of the northern states as well. (Ch. 11, pg. 189)
- The President received the news that General Sherman had taken Savannah Georgia. (Ch. 12, pg. 194
- Mr. Milton fears that there is so much hatred in the hearts of men and such a desire for revenge that peace won’t be easy. (Ch. 12, pgs 198 – 199)
- Mr. Milton is afraid that all the uneducated slaves will be taken advantaged of, all over the nation. (Ch. 12, pg. 200)
- Terms of peace were signed at a courthouse in Appomattox in April. (Ch. 12, pg. 201)
- The terrible news arrived in April that the President had been shot. (Ch. 12, pg. 203)